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Study pinpoints phacoemulsification as a risk factor for persistent corneal edema
Acta Ophthalmol. 2009;87(2):154-159.
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Corneal transplantation performed soon after cataract surgery showed higher survival rates than procedures performed to treat late-onset pseudophakic bullous keratopathy.
Phacoemulsification was a risk factor for immediate persistent corneal edema after cataract surgery but did not increase the risk of pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (PBK), the study authors said.
"Shorter duration of PBK and intraocular lens exchange at the time of penetrating keratoplasty increased the likelihood of good visual acuity," they said.
The retrospective cohort study included 273 patients identified with corneal edema after cataract surgery and indicated for corneal transplantation. Investigators used data from the Swedish Corneal Transplant Register and patient medical records.
Data showed that 43% of patients developed persistent corneal edema soon after cataract surgery. The primary risk factors for corneal edema were phacoemulsification and pre-existing endothelial disease. Thirty-two percent of transplants for PBK failed within 2 years. Fifty percent of patients had logMAR visual acuity of 0.1 or worse 2 years after transplantation.
Comorbidity, longer duration of bullous keratopathy and advancing age correlated with poor visual outcomes, the authors said.